Gaza's Forgotten Families Update #5: Reaching Families Living Among the Ruins in North Gaza — and a Water Distribution Video That Will Break Your Heart
261+ households reached through direct, community-led humanitarian aid in one of Northern Gaza's most isolated and underserved communities.
Today, we are grateful to share the completion of Update #5 of Gaza's Forgotten Families—our second humanitarian distribution in Northern Gaza, once again facilitated by our trusted local coordinator, Abood A.
We reached over 261 households in one of Northern Gaza's most isolated and underserved communities. These are families who refuse to leave the ruins of their homes and live among those ruins. Many of their loved ones remains still lie under the rubble.
This phase focused on two of the most urgent humanitarian needs facing displaced families today: fresh vegetables and fruit and clean drinking water.
As temperatures climbed across Gaza during the first week of July, families living in tents and among the rubble faced relentless heat with almost no shade or reliable access to clean water. Temperatures are hovering around 31–33°C (87–92°F) and conditions inside tents and across exposed concrete and destroyed neighborhoods made these temps significantly hotter. Dehydration is an ever-present danger particularly for the young, sick and elderly.
This initiative was carried out in the eastern Jabalia area of Northern Gaza—an area where many families continue living on the ruins of their homes despite the constant danger and their close proximity to the so-called "yellow zone." They have refused to abandon their land, choosing instead to endure unimaginable hardship rather than lose what little remains of their home.
These are communities receiving little to no organized humanitarian assistance.
For many of the families we reached, the only aid they received came from the Substack community.
Essential 1 — Fresh Vegetable Distribution (Northern Gaza)
Fresh vegetables have become one of the most difficult foods to obtain inside Gaza.
Most humanitarian food assistance consists of shelf-stable items designed for long-term storage. While these supplies are lifesaving, they cannot replace the nutritional value of fresh produce nor the value to a mother of preparing a fresh, nourishing meal to her children.
Working directly with a local wholesaler allows us to maximize every donated dollar while providing families with vegetables they could use to prepare several healthy meals.
61 vegetable parcels were prepared.
50 of these parcels were distributed inside one of Northern Gaza's most marginalized camps—a camp that currently receives virtually no assistance from any humanitarian organizations.
The remaining 11 parcels were delivered to families living in tents scattered along nearby streets without any camp administration.
Each parcel included a selection of fresh vegetables, with a small surplus of peppers, lemons, and eggplants allowing additional produce to be shared among families.
For many recipients, this represented their first opportunity in 6 months to prepare a meal using fresh ingredients rather than relying solely on processed emergency food.
Results:
🥬 61 families received a fresh vegetable parcel designed to last a few days.
❤️ One of Northern Gaza's least-served communities received direct assistance
Expenses:
Fresh vegetables: $1,281
Transportation: $37
Distribution bags: $30
Posters and identification materials: $22
Total: $1,370
Essential 2 — Emergency Water Distribution
Access to clean drinking water continues to be one of Gaza's greatest humanitarian emergencies.
No family should ever have to choose between dehydration and drinking unsafe water.
As Abood explained:
"No one drinks dirty water. None of us can accept this for ourselves or our children. Families walk hundreds—sometimes thousands—of meters pushing small carts to collect clean water. When they cannot afford a cart, they carry heavy containers back by hand."
This phase focused on families living throughout eastern Jabalia.
Many remain surrounded by destroyed infrastructure where water deliveries are infrequent or nonexistent.
When Abood coordinated with one camp for delivery, he discovered neighboring camps had gone three full days without water.
As the truck arrived, crowds quickly gathered.
Not because people were disorderly—but because parents feared there would not be enough water for their children.
Humanitarian deliveries inside Gaza require careful coordination. If the truck stops too early, large crowds form before it reaches the families waiting at the designated distribution point. Yet once a location has been promised assistance, volunteers cannot simply turn away.
It is an impossible balance.
Abood later reflected:
"I wish I could bring enough water trucks for all of Jabalia. Every family there desperately needs assistance."
Each water truck requires approximately 90 minutes to two hours to empty depending on road conditions, distance traveled, and the amount of rubble blocking access.
Despite these obstacles, two emergency water distributions were successfully completed.
Results:
💧 Two emergency water trucks delivered
💧 10,000 liters of clean drinking water distributed
💧 More than 200 households received emergency drinking water
💧 Families were spared a long distance walk searching for water and carrying heavy containers through extreme heat
Expenses:
Water Truck #1: $200
Water Truck #2: $200
Total: $400
A special thank you goes to anonymous private donor from the Substack community, who generously donated 200 CAD (approximately $137 USD) directly to Abood outside of the Chuffed campaign to help fund emergency water distribution.
A Personal Journey Home
This distribution carried deep personal meaning for Abood.
While traveling through eastern Jabalia, he passed his old elementary school.
Seeing it again after everything that has happened brought back memories he thought had long disappeared.
Among the destruction were reminders of childhood—places that once represented ordinary life before the genocide transformed the landscape.
Those memories made this mission especially emotional.
Yet despite everything that has been lost, the people of Jabalia remain determined to stay.
Many families continue living beside the ruins of their homes because they refuse to abandon their land.
Their resilience is extraordinary.
Note: Abood A does not take anything to do this for his people. If you want to show Abood appreciation and support him, this is his link:
https://chuffed.org/project/174135-seven-lives-one-20-year-old-help-abood-survive-this
Summary of Humanitarian Impact
Through this initiative, more than 261 households received direct humanitarian assistance.
61 families received fresh vegetable parcels.
More than 200 households received emergency clean drinking water.
These distributions reached one of Northern Gaza's most underserved communities—a population receiving little support despite living under extraordinarily difficult conditions.
Families include elderly residents, people living with disabilities, individuals recovering from war injuries, and parents raising young children amid destroyed infrastructure and extreme summer heat.
For many, this assistance represented not only food and water—but reassurance that they have not been forgotten.
Funds Received & Transparency Summary
Total collected for Update #5: $2,000
Carryover from Update #3: $119 (included in the $2,000)
Fund Movement:
Stripe disbursement after fees: $1,881
Bank wire fee: $30
Amount transferred to Abood: $1,851
Currency exchange (2.5%): $46
Cash available inside Gaza: $1,804
To recognize the extraordinary work required to source supplies, negotiate wholesale pricing, coordinate distributions, organize volunteers, transport aid, document deliveries, and safely reach vulnerable communities, $180 (10%) was allocated to compensate the local humanitarian team for their time and efforts.
The remaining funds were used to purchase and distribute humanitarian aid throughout Northern Gaza.
As always, every phase of Gaza's Forgotten Families is documented with photographs, videos, receipts, and financial reporting so supporters can see exactly how their generosity is being used.
Looking Ahead
Every completed distribution reminds us of two truths.
First, compassionate people from around the world can make a tangible difference in the lives of families enduring unimaginable hardship.
Second, the need remains overwhelming.
Entire neighborhoods continue to survive with little or no organized humanitarian assistance. Families are still searching for clean water. Parents are still struggling to find nutritious food for their children.
We will continue working alongside trusted local coordinators like Abood A and Alaa M to reach communities that too often fall through the cracks.
Thank you for making this possible.
Thank you for trusting us.
Thank you for proving, once again, that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they refuse to look away.
Please continue sharing.
Please continue giving.
No family forgotten.
Donate:
https://chuffed.org/project/183781-gaza-forgotten-families-fund
Heartbreaking. So much waste and self indulgence in the world at large, and so little needed here to make an enormous difference to these people.
❤️❤️❤️ No words.. Thank you for not forgetting them.